March 31, 2006
does it make any difference if you know that the eye cream has grape seeds in it?
A few weeks ago, I had lunch with my friend Ms. Educat, and while we did not make margarita slushies, we did go makeup shopping, which is nearly as good. I bought a lovely Nars eyeshadow (in Cairo–isn’t that a GREAT name for a color?), and the nice woman at the MakeUp Bar threw in a sample of this eye cream, which I have been using every since. I like to try new eye creams, because they NEVER WORK and I am able to unleash my hidden cynic on them; the famous Arbonne eye cream, the one everyone RAVES about, made me break out. Yes, really! So I started patting on the sample cream, just so I could say, “Feh! Doesn’t work” when someone asked.
And you know what? IT TOTALLY WORKS! And I totally love it. But it totally costs $52.00 for HALF AN OUNCE. And yes, I realize that a little eye cream goes a long way, but still! Dammit.
So this morning, at my regular Friday playdate, I was asking my girlfriends what they thought about this dilemma (you know, like should I just spend the $52.00 and BUY the eye cream, or should I opt for a lipgloss, which I also need and which would be more like $20.00, and then mooch some more samples of the eye cream and see how long I can make them last?) while our kids played nicely together and we drank our coffee. And it was the most normal mommy moment you can imagine, the complete antithesis of the rest of my week.
I still don’t know what to do about the eye cream, but I do know this: I have remarkable friends. They are funny and smart and so very kind, and this past couple of weeks, they have kept me going. During the week, when Wade is at work and I am essentially on my own to care for the kids and deal with the minute-to-minute (and with my kids things often literally ARE minute to minute) my girlfriends–the ones here in OKC who meet me for coffee and share their babysitters and make me laugh until my sides hurt, and the ones far away who e-mail and IM and call my cell phone to say, “I just thought you might want to talk” which also ends in me laughing until my sides hurt–these women are my most consistent source of support and sanity. And recently, they have listened to me whine and helped me plan and bailed me out. They have asked intelligent and non-judgemental questions about Henry and what comes next and how we’re doing and what they can do to help, and they have talked to me about random things like eye cream and soccer practice and what our kids ate for dinner, which has made me feel less isolated and more–well, normal. Because it’s normal to obssess about the little wrinkles around your eyes, yes? Don’t you?
On our schedule for the weekend are two soccer games and a big family dinner, which pretty much guarantees that I will wind up with something actually FUNNY to tell you about my weekend. And thank you all for picking up the slack here and making me laugh these last few days–I really needed it.
Now tell me what to do about the eye cream.
Posted by Susan @ 8:35 pm • Uncategorized
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March 31st, 2006 at 8:49 pm, MamaChristy Says:
Just buy the eye cream. It’s cheaper than plastic surgery (though it sounds like you might need a bit of a break from your kids and recovery from surgery just might get you that).
March 31st, 2006 at 9:10 pm, educat Says:
Oh, hell, if it works for you go ahead. It is incredibly expensive, but use it sparingly and dream of the day you can slather it all over your face and appear 14 years old (Which should be on the day of Charlie’s college graduation–about the time Henry finishes grad school. You’ll get there and when you do, the eye cream is on me!).
I buy the magical Arbonne cream and even with my sister’s distributor’s discount, I choke to pay it, some things are just worth it.
This is how I think while watching Clinton and Stacey. I think it’s valid.
Meanwhile, if I dig up my sample, it’s yours.
March 31st, 2006 at 9:54 pm, Peter Ing Says:
Buy it, stick your chin out and affect a British accent. If you’re worried about the money, you could probably generate some extra cash by writing term papers for all those college kids in your area. There are probably some really decent kids who are struggling and need some tutoring. You could trade your expertise for some sitting time. If you have an ethics issue with the whole thought, you could take on a consultant role and create an intellect-physical barter ring. Bring on the bonbons!
April 1st, 2006 at 12:29 am, adria Says:
Keep using the eye cream - it sounds like it works wonders. Skin care products are very important, and you should always buy what works best for you.
Have a fun weekend with lots of time for cake and cocktails.
April 1st, 2006 at 9:09 am, Kristen Says:
It’s so good that you have a group of friends who can help you through all the questions and transitions and stress and fear and worry and not knowing… yay for friends!
On the eye cream, I say start with the lip gloss / mooching another sample attempt, if that doesn’t work, just buy it - of all times, right now you deserve a little splurge.
April 1st, 2006 at 9:42 am, Misfit Hausfrau Says:
Buy the eye cream. It makes you happy and it feels good. In the course of a year, how many true extravagences do you really have?
So are we really having a Cincinnati playdate?
April 1st, 2006 at 11:08 am, MJ Says:
Buy the eye cream.
April 1st, 2006 at 12:06 pm, Meredith Says:
Buy it! Buy it! (I just spent $52 on a sample kit of some fancy sensitive skin home cleansing products that I got talked into buying while getting my brows waxed - join me in the $52 club - at least you know yours works!)
April 1st, 2006 at 1:10 pm, Arwen Says:
I can’t tell you what to do about the eye cream but Origins has this mushroom serum which is the same thing, $60 for a bottle and it works so well and I was first introduced to it from a free sample. Those make up counter ladies are a little like drug dealers: ‘here’s a nice little free sample, it won’t hurt.’ Until, of course we are totally hooked on the stuff.
April 1st, 2006 at 1:13 pm, kfk Says:
If it works, I say GET IT! There’s not much out there that you can say that about. And the price of each wrinkle goes up the more you ignore them!
April 1st, 2006 at 1:37 pm, Jenorama Says:
I am so all about buying the eye cream.
I really think it was the grape seeds that decided it for me.
April 1st, 2006 at 4:03 pm, irreverentmama Says:
The consensus is in: you may treat yourself to the eye cream. (Hey! If we all chip in a couple of bucks, it’ll only cost you as much as the lip gloss!!)
Cairo. It is a lovely name. I’m guessing it’s in the brown range - maybe a terracotta/sandstone mix, heavy on the sandstone??
April 1st, 2006 at 5:45 pm, Anonymous Says:
You need to figure out busymom’s deal where she gets free stuff to try out and post about on her blog.
Liz
April 1st, 2006 at 8:23 pm, The Daring One Says:
I think you must buy it….and send it to me.
April 1st, 2006 at 8:56 pm, marti Says:
After the crisis of the A-bomb hit our house, I walked around all in a dither with bad hair and frumpy clothes and shlepping back and forth to therapy and special ed without a thought to how I looked. Then, when woke up on the other side and took the time for my beauty regimine (which frankly takes longer than I think it should, or more to the point longer than it did when I was 10-years younger … damnit) I realized what YOU already know deep down inside. You need BOTH the lip gloss and the eyecream. You just need to define which one you’ll buy at high end, and which one you’ll buy at SuperTarget. A new lipstick in your handbag always makes a girl feel like a new woman, even if it’s a $2 number. I never get out of the Target parking lot without opening it up.
For cheap makeup try elf.com … and keep buying shoes and eyecream and doing your hair and wearing your cute clothes. It goes a long way to making you feel like you’re not the autism mom and you’re a real broad, which you are.
April 1st, 2006 at 9:04 pm, Susie Says:
Oh my God BUY IT. How often do things ACTUALLY work like they say they will? Eye creams, moisturizer, cordless phones, ear thermometers, cold medicines, lip balm. When you find one that works well? Get it. I say either use all the free sample first or save it for a “travel size” if it’s small. Erhm… cause you never know when you might…run away?
April 2nd, 2006 at 10:21 am, Velma Says:
You may not need the eye cream, but you definitely need a little luxury. We all do. Buy the cream and take the time to enjoy the sensation of doing something for only you. And if you’ve mastered that tap-tap-tap-s0-you-don’t-pull-the-delicate-skin-around-your-eyes technique, I’d like some hints, because I always end up tapping myself right in the eyeball.
April 2nd, 2006 at 2:15 pm, Kelli in the Mirror Says:
This is why I have saggy yucky eyes. I think, NO! $52?! Surely you can milk the sample thing for awhile longer. Go to different stores and see how many people will give it to you.
But then if all else fails, and you think about it night and day and want it real bad, then go ahead and buy it.
April 2nd, 2006 at 5:06 pm, Callie Says:
Well, if you really want to be thrifty, I just found that eye cream on Ebay for 13 bucks!
April 2nd, 2006 at 5:41 pm, littlemissme Says:
Almost all of the previous commenters are my new role models. I join their chorus of BUY IT, BUY IT! And I add to it that I must have the cairo eyeshadow. Like now. Oh my God. Why must you awaken these urges in me?
April 2nd, 2006 at 8:26 pm, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
See, I’m the wrong person to ask. Just before I came over to read this, I spent close to a hundred bucks in Philosophy products at Drugstore.com. Love them Cinnamon Buns.
April 3rd, 2006 at 5:37 am, felicity Says:
I don’t know what to say about the eye cream but I have a favor to ask: please share your friends and your laughing with our own dear Kyra, willya?
April 3rd, 2006 at 12:18 pm, Homestead Says:
I say buy the eye cream and mooch the lip gloss.
Actually…. I can tell you exactly what I would do. Go to Target and buy two clearance lip glosses for $3 each. (Thus saving yourself $34 because those other two lip glosses you were considering were $20 each.) Then find out when the beauty counter will be giving out a free gift bag with purchase (a $27 value) and buy the eye cream. Then buy youself a nice coffee & a treat for $9… because -if you do my math- you’ve actually SAVED yourself $9 buying the eye cream.
April 3rd, 2006 at 2:10 pm, ieatcrayonz Says:
Take one of your gals to the counter and have her distract the sales lady. Those samples are as good as yours!